Paula Deen is not a public health role model

I’d like to disagree with the “hearts” to Paula Deen for her diabetes disclosure as her motives did not appear to be altruistic. She did not attempt to use her celebrity to educate the public about living a healthy lifestyle. She provided no insight on any changes she has made in her own life since her diagnosis three years ago.

Paula downplayed the seriousness of diabetes by stating that it’s “Not a death sentence.” Paula is, in fact, wrong. Diabetes is an extremely serious illness that contributes to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people in the U.S. each year. For many people controlling their diet and weight can prevent or reverse the effects of diabetes.

Her public disclosure seemed more like damage control and a wonderful platform to introduce her latest money making endeavor as spokeswoman for a drug company. While she is certainly a savvy businesswoman merely sharing her diagnosis and plugging a medicine does not make her a role model for public health.